Most Powerful Amateur Rocket in Canada

Alex Schmidt writes "A group of Canadian 'amateur' rocketeers successfully launched a 16 1/2 foot rocket to a height of about 5500 feet. The rocket is based on the 'Dauphine' a meteorological rocket from the 1960's. The rocket weighed 300 pounds, stood 16.5 feet high and 21 inches in diameter. The motors generated 2400lbs of thrust. It successfully landed after 3 of 4 parachutes properly deployed."

Comments

Engine?

[mgcsinc]

Did they use a "C" engine or were they able to stick a "D" in that baby?

Re:Engine?

[proctorg76]

According to the letter code used by the National Association of Rocketry ( http://www.nar.org ), each letter has twice the power of the class before it and a "D" class engine generates between 2.5 and 5 lbs of thrust. The article claims 2,400 lbs of thrust, so by doubling the power range until it includes 2400 it is revealed that this would be an "L" class engine.

Re:Engine?

[NanoWit]

So that would put a Saturn V (~7,500,000 lb.) at one letter past Z (AA?)

Re:Engine?

[RedWizzard]

According to the project page the total impulse is close to the limit of O class, just under 41,000Ns.

Blame Canada!

[Ricin]

Sorry, got flashbacks from the South Park movie. I can almost see Rummy deliver the speech.

All your base are belong to Ontario...

[Anonymous Coward]

Canada has set us up the bomb!

Re:All your base are belong to Ontario...

[Anonymous Coward]

Ontario? Grab an Atlas, Calgary is in Alberta.

If that was in US...

[Anonymous Coward]

They would be arrested already, under the patriot act, for developing terrorist weapons...

MacKenzie Brothers in Space

[AtariAmarok]

Somewhere near Sudbury....

"Hey Doug, watch me shake up this Molson's 12 pack, like, real good and hard, eh?"

"Eh, Bob, let's open them all at once"

WHOOSHHHH!!!!

Damn, guess the invasion's off

[Yo Grark]

And just when I'd thought we'd finally mustered up the full might of our canadian army and air force to attack America, the parachutes deployed.

Oh well, guess we'll continue taking over the hollywood, maple syrup conglomerate and beer industries. :P

Yo Grark
Canadian Bred with American Buttering.

Re:Damn, guess the invasion's off

[Call Me Black Cloud]

Behave or we'll move one of your 6 remaining hockey teams to someplace silly like Puerto Rico.

As this is a new "extended format" comment you are now presented deleted scenes:

Don't make us cut off your F-18 parts supply (and who do you think you're fooling by painting cockpits on the bottom of the plane?)

(to the tune of O Christmas Tree) O Canada O Canada / How yummy is your bacon / I eat it each and every day / Along with toast and scrambled eggs...

Je Me Souviens this, punk.

Re:Was it really impressive?

[Yo Grark]

That's 6000 US feet, here in canada' that's like at least 20,000. :)

Yo Grark
Canadian Bred with American Buttering.

In a (vain) attempt at disscussion...

[fiftyvolts]

I read the article, and it seems to me that what these 4 guys did was quite impressive. The article mentions this was the largest launch in Canadian History. Anyone know what the largest anywhere was?

What I am really happy about is the amount of publicity they got. Having the rocket being put in a museum and making a Discovery Channel special about the event is going to catch a lot of people attention. Well maybe not that many, but at least the people who care about space exploration.

Perhaps amateurs like these guys will lead to private space travel organizations.

They used *two* ounces of baking soda.

[blair1q]

Cripes. I can fart olives higher than 5500 feet.

Attack Of The Clones?

[WIAKywbfatw]

Is it me or do the three guys pictured in the article look like they're identical? I mean, even their baseball caps, t-shirts and footwear are the same and their only distinguishing features are their trousers - presumably so that they can tell each other apart.

Hmmm, clones with rockets. Where have I heard that before?

Re:Was it really impressive?

[Anonymous Coward]

I was thinking the same. You can get 6K out of a G or H class, maybe it was a typo of 55,000 feet?. It is ashame they didn't discuss more of the technical details. The plume makes it look like amonium nitrate/magnesium or aluminum.

Curious,
Frank

Re:Looks like good fun

[mikeophile]

If you want to do this in the US, here is the appropriate waiver form.

You just have to make sure your launch conforms to the following regulations.

May not be operated in a prohibited or restricted area without permission from the using or controlling agency, as appropriate [14 CFR 101.3]
May not be operated in a manner that creates a hazard to people or property [14 CFR 101.7(a)]
May not drop anything that creates a hazard to people or property [14 CFR 101.7(b)]
If within a restricted area, must: [14 CFR 101.21]

Not be operated within 1500 feet of any person or property not associated with the operations [14 CFR 101.23(g)]
Comply with additional limitations imposed by the using or controlling agency, as appropriate. [14 CFR 101.21]

If not within a restricted area, must: [14 CFR 101.21]

Not operate in a manner that creates a collision hazard with other aircraft [14 CFR 101.23(a)] Not operate within controlled airspace [14 CFR 101.23(b)]
Not operate within 5 miles of the border of any airport [14 CFR 101.23(c)]
Not fly to altitude where cloud coverage is greater than 50% [14 CFR 101.23(d)]
Not fly to any altitude where the visibility is less than 5 miles [14 CFR 101.23(e)]
Not fly into any clouds [14 CFR 101.23(f)]
Not operate closer than 1500 feet from anyone not involved [14 CFR 101.23(g)]
Not fly between sunset and sunrise [14 CFR 101.23(h)]
Notify the nearest FAA Air Traffic Control center 24-48 hours before the launch [14 CFR 101.25]

In addition, your rocket itself has certain limitations.

Section 400.2 [14 CFR 400.2], which explicitly exempts "amateur rocket activities" from these regulations.
Section 401.5 [14 CFR 401.5], which defines "amateur rocket activities" as follows: "Amateur rocket activities means launch activities conducted at private sites involving rockets powered by a motor or motors having a total impulse of 200,000 pound-seconds or less and a total burning or operating time of less than 15 seconds, and a rocket having a ballistic coefficient--i.e., gross weight in pounds divided by frontal area of rocket vehicle--less than 12 pounds per square inch."

BTW, the Canadian rocket had a ballistic coefficient of 6.93 lbs per square inch.

Project website...

[el33thack3r]

Project Dauphin website is here.

Re:Rockets are old!

[Planesdragon]

It is technically feasible. But noone seems to be interested in it.

That's because it's only theoretically feasible. The USAF and NASA have been working on alternate methods of reaching space for decades now, and their tests haven't been roaring successes.

Got an alternative that works? Apply for a grant, test it, and then sell it to USAF / NASA. If you can't get a grant yourself, go find someone who can get grants and sell your idea to them.

Re:Missile Defense

[rich_r]

Can I build my own mega-missile and launch it a mile up whenever I feel like doing it?
Yes. Just not twice....

In other news...

[kevlar]

In other news...

Djibouti constructed its largest steam powered tractor. Its expected to till 40 tons of soil a year.

Re:Was it really impressive?

[taniwha]

we've flown similar rockets to 100k ft at Blackrock in the US - the Canadian rocket looks big and heavy to me - similar to this one that flew to a similar height on larger motors.

100k ft is REALLY hard to reach - motors are extremely expensive and the technology is not wonderfully reliable. Mind you the US govt just banned all our motors due to the 'Patriot' act. On the other hand flying a light weight rocket to 6k is easy, people do it all the time - on cardboard and plywood - 100k requires lightweight composite materials that can stand flying thru mach 3

Bush Doctrine

[fruity1983]

We cannot entertain the threat that Canada's new missile technology poses. Canada, you must immediately relent to weapons inspections. Your aggression will not be tolerated.

Most Powerful Amateur in Canada

[jamonterrell]

"16.5 feet ... 21 inches in diameter ... 2400lbs of thrust"

I just got this same spam last week in my inbox.